Front-clasp cover and stay-pocket for corsets.



J. E. DO OLITT LE. FRONT CLASP COVER AND STAY POCKET FOR GORSETS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1911.

Patented J an. 16, 1912.

WITH/E8858.

' ATTORNEY com-mum I'LANUGRAPII cu wumr.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. DOOLITTLE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO BIRDSEY, SOMERS COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FRONT-CLASP COVER AND STAY-POCKET FOR CORSETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 16, 1911.

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

Serial No. 633,622.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES E. DOOLITTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Front-Clasp Covers and Stay-Pockets for Corsets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to corsets of the type employing reinforcing stays which are capable of ready removal whereby the corset may be rendered-relatively stiff and unyielding or more pliable at the option of the wearer. Corsets of this character as heretofore made, particularly those in which the removable stays are located at the front of the corset at the edges thereof, adjacent the clasp members, have been rendered objectionable by reason of the fact that when the reinforcing stays are removed the clasp members become loosened in their pockets so as to slip therein and sometimes eventually work out.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a corset of the type referred to in which the clasp members will be held firmly in place whether the reinforcing stay is inserted or removed. This and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of one form or embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing. It will be understood however that the construction described and shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a View of the corset complete and in place on the wearer. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation, partly broken away, of one of the front edges, showing the reinforcing stay about to be removed. Fig. 3 is a view of the removable stay. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views, to be hereinafter referred to, illustrating various steps in the manufacture.

Generally speaking the corset may be of any suitable form and is made of stout teX- tile fabric 10 (Fig. 1) to which are secured the usual stays 11, clasp members 12, and lacing strips (not shown). Adjacent the front edges ofthe corset the fabric thereof is formed in two plies, an outer ply 13 and an inner-ply 14, while at its upper and lower edges the corset is provided with the usual binding 15.

16 denotes a seam or line of'stitches uniting the two plies adjacent their edges and at the edge of the corset.

17 denotes a strip of fabric folded over and inclosing the clasp member 12. 18 denotes a second strip united at one edge to the inner ply 14 by means of a line of stitches 19 and to the edges of the strip 17 and the outer ply 13 by means of a line of stitches 20.

21 denotes a line of stitches uniting the two plies 13 and 14 within the strip 18.

The construction will be best understood from the following description of the preferred method of producing the same. The strip .18 is stitched to the inner ply 14 by the seam 19, and the edges of the two plies are united by running the line of stitches 16, as shown in Fig. 4. The strip 17 is then folded about the clasp member 12. It will be understood that suitable openings will be provided in the strip 17 and in the outer ply 13 or seam 16 for the projection of the fastening devices 22 carried by said clasp memher. The strip 17 with its inclosed clasp member is then placed adjacent the strip 18, as shown in Fig. 5, the plies 13 and 14 are folded over upon the clasp member, and the strips 17 and 18 and outer ply 13 united by the seam 20. Finally the two plies 13 and 14 are united by the seam 21 as shown in Fig. 6. It will, of course, be understood that both the front edges of the corset are formed in substantially the same manner;

It will be seen that the foregoing operations result in an edge construction having a pocket 23, in which the clasp member 12 is permanently secured by means of the seam 20, and a separate and adjacent pocket 24 in which is located the removable reinforcing stay 25. In order to permit the ready insertion and removal of the stay 25 the inner ply 14 is preferably provided with a slit 26 (Fig. 2), while to facilitate removal said reinforcing stay, as shown, is provided with a loop or cord 27.

As will now be seen the removal of the stays 25 will have no effect upon the permanence of the clasp members 12, while theremoval and reinsertion of these stays is a very simple matter and may be accomplished 'Very quickly and easily.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A corset comprising tWo plies of fabric, a strip of fabric located between said plies, a clasp member, a second strip of fabric folded over said clasp member and having its edges lying adjacent one of the edges of said first named strip, a line of stitches uniting the other edge of said first named strip to one of said plies, a second line of stitches uniting the adjacent edges of both of said strips to each other and to the other of said plies, a third line of stitches uniting said plies beyond said strips to form With said first named strip a stay pocket, and'a removable stay in said pocket.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 20 in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES E. DOOLITTLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

